Tbilisi has one of the most exciting natural wine bar scenes in the world. A new generation of Georgian winemakers — trained in Europe but returning with the knowledge of their own 8000-year tradition — has created a bar scene unlike anything else in the Caucasus. This evening tour walks you through the best of it.
Why Tbilisi for Wine?
Georgia produces wine in a completely different way from anywhere else in the world. The qvevri method — fermenting grapes skin-on in clay vessels buried underground — produces the famous amber or "orange" wines that have taken the international natural wine world by storm. In Tbilisi, this ancient technique meets modern sensibility in bars run by young sommeliers who've spent time in Paris, Copenhagen, and New York and returned home to pour their own country's wine.
The Wine Bar Route
Wine Underground (Vino Underground)
The original and still the best. A cave-like bar in the old town lined with Georgian natural wines from small producers. The wine list is handwritten and changes weekly. We start here with 2-3 glasses and Georgian cheese snacks (sulguni, imeruli, guda — each with a different character and region).
g.Vino
A modern wine bar near Rustaveli with a more structured list including Georgian wines from every region. The bar also pours some excellent Armenian and Azerbaijani wines for comparison. We stop for 2 glasses and a small plate of adjapsandali (Georgian ratatouille) or pkhali.
Local Sololaki Bar
We finish at a small neighbourhood bar in the Sololaki district — the kind of place where locals actually drink, not a tourist destination. The owner typically has one or two exceptional bottles from friends who make wine in their basements for their own consumption. This is where you taste something that will never appear in any wine guide.
Timur's Tip
This tour is perfect for people who've already visited Kakheti or who want to understand Georgian wine without a full day trip. The urban wine bar scene is a different experience from the family winery — more curated, more diverse, more focused on discovery. Eat dinner before or after, not during — the snacks are accompaniments, not a meal.
Included
- Private guide (Timur)
- 3-4 wine bars
- Wine selections at each bar (2-3 glasses)
- Georgian snack pairings
- Explanation of each wine and producer
Not Included
- Bar bills (wine and food paid by guests)
- Budget ₾80-120 per person for bars
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the Kakheti wine tour?
No. This is an urban evening bar tour in Tbilisi — 3-4 wine bars on foot in the old town. The Kakheti tour is a full-day excursion to the vineyards. They complement each other perfectly: visit Kakheti by day, wine bars in the evening.
What time does the wine bar tour start?
We start at 19:00-20:00. The tour lasts 3-4 hours, finishing around 22:00-23:00. The exact time is flexible — we agree the start time when booking.
Do I need wine knowledge?
No. Timur explains every wine in plain English — what grape, which region, what to taste for. The tour is educational as well as enjoyable.